We've documented a number of times that Carbon Monoxide can be manufactured in a pretty direct way, by what might seem the rather self-evident reaction between Carbon Dioxide and hot Coal, as represented by the simple equation: CO2 + C = 2CO; and, as seen for just one instance in:

"US Patent 4,177,120 - Photolytic Process for Gasification of Carbonaceous Material; 1979; Process and apparatus are disclosed for converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide by subjecting the carbon dioxide to radiation in the presence of carbonaceous material such as coal to form carbon monoxide."

"US Patent Application 20020072109 - Enhanced Practical Photosynthetic CO2 Mitigation; 2002; Inventors: David Bayless, et. al., Ohio; Government Interests: The U.S. Government has a paid up license in this invention. Abstract: An on-site biological sequestration system (that) directly decreases the concentration of carbon-containing compounds in the emissions of fossil generation units."

We often refer, in the course of our reportage, to ExxonMobil's "MTG"(r), methanol-to-gasoline, technology, wherein the Methanol is most often posited to be made from Coal.

The "MTG"(r) process makes use of a what is sometimes described as an "acidic catalyst", or catalyst support, based on the zeolite mineral designated as "ZSM-5", which shorthand label actually conveys some technical information about the specific compound to those blessed with intimate knowledge of zeolites, which is a broad family of both natural and synthetic minerals, and their sub-microscopic structures.

Since free, elemental Hydrogen is required by a number of intriguing Coal liquefaction and Carbon Dioxide recycling technologies we've reported on, and which we often make reference to, such as, for instance, West Virginia University's "West Virginia Process" for the direct liquefaction of Coal, as described succinctly in:

WVU Hydrogenates Coal Tar | Research & Development; concerning the: "Hydrogenation of Naphthalene and Coal Tar Distillate; Abhijit Bhagavatula; West Virginia University; 2009; Abstract: The hydrogenation of naphthalene ... has been carried out in a Trickle Bed Reactor, in which the liquid is allowed to flow through the catalyst bed in the presence of hydrogen (to form) the hydrogenated product, tetralin (for use in) direct liquefaction processes (where) the organic structure of coal is broken down to produce distillable liquids";

We have already documented the fact that our USDOE, in its wisdom, has, in the past, hired major petroleum companies to develop Coal liquefaction technologies.

An example of our reportage concerning such issues would include:

USDOE Hires Exxon to Improve Low-Rank Coal Liquefaction | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,304,655 - Liquefaction Process; 1981; Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company, NJ; Abstract: Scale formation during the liquefaction of lower ranking coals and similar carbonaceous materials is significantly reduced and/or prevented by pretreatment with a combination of pretreating agents comprising SO2 and an oxidizing agent. Government Interests: The Government of the United States of America has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. EF-77-A-01-2893 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy."